The Canadian Horticulturist. 249 



five years the value of the orchard is raised to $15,915, and the whole cost of 

 raising an orchard cannot exceed $3 per tree, which tree will give an average 

 income of $2 a year for 100 years. A very important factor, as already stated, 

 in estimating the profits of apple orcharding in Nova Scotia is the proved 

 longevity of the apple tree, as good crops are now being raised on apple trees 

 planted by the French more than 150 years ago. Fertilizing the orchard by a 

 top dressing of marsh mud (" muddy ") is a common practice with most growers, 

 and one which generally assures a satisfactory growth of wood, though potash 

 and phosphoric acid should be added in order to balance the fertilizing ration. 



Of the varieties of apples grown in the Annapolis Valley, a large number 

 are of English origin. In a collection comprising 153 varieties collected for the 

 World's Fair, there are 25 Pippins of different kinds, including such as English 

 Golden Pippin, French Pippin and Cluster Golden Pippin — all names indicating 

 considerable antiquity. In the collection there are also 30 well-known sorts 

 which are natural born "bluenoses," and though few of them have attained more 

 than a provincial reputation, yet their excellence should lead to a wider test. 

 As a commercial variety, Gravenstein heads the list. Ribston and King stand 

 next, followed by Blenheim, Baldwin, Spy and Nonpareil. The great success of 

 the apple in the Annapolis Valley, and the natural facilities which Nova Scotians 

 possess for placing it in good condition upon the British market, have had the 

 effect of retarding the development to a considerable extent of other lines of fruit 

 culture. With a climate and soil excellently suited to pear growing, pears are 

 little cultivated, peaches still less, while plums and cherries are as yet restricted 

 to particular localities. Small fruits have recently, received considerable atten- 

 tion, so much so that, while six or eight years ago home markets were not 

 sufficiently supplied, now these demands are fully met, and large quantities are 

 exported to the neighboring provinces, and even to Boston. A strong wave of 

 enthusiasm is now speeping over the province in regard to the future success of 

 fruit growing, and a new era in the development of this industry on broader lines 

 has already set in. — J. Craig, in American Gardening. 



Intermixing" Varieties. — The subject of intermixing in an orchard dif- 

 ferent varieties of the same fruit, and intermixing different fruits, in order to 

 secure the better fertilization of the pollen, is one which will receive the atten- 

 tion of pomologists during the coming ten years. These facts at present are 

 known — That apple trees with several varieties of apples on them seem to bear 

 better annual crops than trees that are surrounded with those of the same vari- 

 ety. That orchards near where bees are kept in large numbers bear better 

 than those distant from the apiary. That large florists will buy swarms of bees 

 and allow them the use of their conservatories for the sole purpose of carrying 

 the pollen of one flower to 'another. We often notice that in some seasons 

 our fruit trees blossom well, but we get a poor setting of fruit. Scientists seem 

 to think that this is due to the climatic influences that happen to be unfavor- 

 able to the transition of the pollen from one tree or blossom to another, result- 

 ing in a lack of proper fecundation. 



